CHIMACUM — The state Department of Transportation has listed more than 50 road improvement options along state Highways 19 and 20, and pitched a “smart trip” pilot program in Whatcom County that — with citizens’ support — could happen in Jefferson County.
The options were displayed during an open house this week at Chimacum Middle School Commons for the State Routes 19/20 Corridor Plan public process now under way.
A final corridor plan is expected in fall 2009.
Residents were asked to fill out a Smart Trips survey to gauge interest in the $1.3 million program that reduced single-driver vehicle use by 11 percent in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
“Jefferson could do the same as Whatcom County for the SR 19/20 corridor plan,” said Vicki Steigner, Transportation project planner.
“If the survey shows you have enough interest in the community, we’ll try to make a service effort.”
Cut car trips
The large-scale Whatcom program was designed to reduce the number of short vehicle trips by promoting walking and biking or using public transit, among other alternative transportation, she said.
It offered free emergency taxi rides home, and partnerships with employers who supported their workers taking public transportation.
Also represented by Port Townsend climate change action advocates Joanna and Thomas Loehr was JeffersonCAN.org, an organization that, through a Jefferson County energy inventory, found transportation to be the greatest single contributor to CO2 emissions in the county, being responsible for 39 percent.
The grass-roots group offers ways to stem emissions through public transportation, ride sharing, transit options to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from Port Townsend, touring without a car, walking and biking resources and fuel-efficient vehicles.
The group’s Web site is www.jeffersoncan.org/transportation.html.
State Highway 19, and a section of Highway 20 from its junction with 19 to the ferry terminal in Port Townsend, are being studied in collaboration with Jefferson County Public Works, the city of Port Townsend and route users.
Among the citizen suggestions for highways corridor improvements:
•âÇAdd a new state Highway 104 interchange, overpass or traffic circle at Center and Beaver Valley roads.
•âÇAdd access improvements to the Olympic Gateway Visitor Center and transit center on Center Road near 104, including a 40-stall park-and-ride lot.
•âÇAdd non-motorized facilities to Center and Chimacum roads to West Valley Road between Chimacum Schools and the Tri-Area Community Center.
•âÇAdd a non-motorized trail between Chimacum Schools and H.J. Carroll Park near Port Hadlock.
•âÇAdd park-and-ride lots at Ness Corner Road — state Highway 116 to Marrowstone Island — and near the intersection of Center and Chimacum roads.
•âÇImprove safety with turning lanes at Prospect and Airport roads.
•âÇStripe a bike lane southbound on highways 19 and 20.
•âÇWiden Highway 20 from Highway 19 north to Old Fort Townsend Road, and improve left turns.
•âÇImprove the intersection of Discovery and Mill roads to Washington Street in Port Townsend.
A corridor plan identifies transportation safety and mobility improvement opportunities and guides Transportation on investments in the corridor over a 20-year period.
Now, the department will create a draft vision statement and draft alternatives evaluation criteria.
The study will recommend improvement strategies for existing and future investments to the transportation system along the two state routes.
A public hearing will be scheduled in July, said Transportation planning office spokesman Nazmul Alam.
The plan will target many of the congestion, safety and roadside issues that travelers often face.
A corridor working group will be part of the process, and public outreach will be implemented to come up with a draft vision and criteria for the plan.
The state will formulate a list of improvement options, and conduct follow-up public and corridor working group outreach this winter.
More evaluation of improvement options will be conducted in spring 2009 with the public and working group.
In the summer of 2009, the state will complete and endorse recommended improvements, and bring them again before the public and working group.
To comment on the plan, write Nazmul Alam at the state Department of Transportation Olympic Region Planning Office, P.O. Box 47440, Olympia, WA 98504-7440; phone 360-357-2722 or e-mail alamn@wsdot.wa.gov.
For more information, see www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/SR19/corridorplan.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
